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Pick 6: Coaches on the hot seat entering 2014

By WTOP Staff

RALPH D. RUSSO
AP College Football Writer

Coaches often say they are always on the hot seat. That might be true, but some seats are hotter than others.

Last season, Southern California and Texas changed coaches and created a cascade of corresponding moves.

A similar situation could play out this season, with a few coaches in high-profile positions heading into 2014 very much in need of winning records and quality victories.

Six coaches entering pivotal seasons for their job security.

Will Muschamp, Florida:

Muschamp had a mediocre first season (7-6), a great second season (11-2) and a terrible third season (4-8) with the Gators. Injuries played a big part in ruining 2013, but oh that offense was ugly. Kurt Roper was hired away from Duke to be the coordinator. Roper plans to spread things out more, up the tempo at times, and benefit from the return of quarterback Jeff Driskel, who missed most of last season with a knee injury. Muschamp has plenty of talent to work with on the defensive side. Another losing season would not be tolerated in Gainesville. The question is just how big of a turnaround does Muschamp need?

Brady Hoke, Michigan:

While Muschamp’s time at Florida has been up and down, Hoke’s three-year stint with the Wolverines has been a steady decline. Eleven victories. Eight victories. Seven victories. It’s one thing for the Wolverines to chasing Ohio State. But Michigan State, too? Hoke is also banking on a new offensive coordinator to fix some of his problems. He hired Doug Nussmeier, whose offenses put up big numbers at Alabama even though they weren’t quite what Nick Saban was looking for. The Wolverines have a roster loaded with highly rated recruits, but short on experience. It looks like a team set to blossom next season. Hoke might not be able to wait that long.

Charlie Weis, Kansas:

The Jayhawks have improved in two seasons under Weis, going from one victory to three last season, including their first Big 12 win since 2010. Improved is still a long way from good. The Jayhawks are loaded with experience and should have their best team under the former Notre Dame coach. But will another small step forward be enough?

Mike London, Virginia:

London’s had one winning season in four with Virginia, including last season’s ugly 2-10 that ended with nine straight losses. Virginia decided to give London another year instead of eating a big chunk of contract. He’ll add some blue chip recruits to an experienced defense, but with games against UCLA, BYU, Florida State and Louisville, a major turnaround will be difficult.

Kyle Flood, Rutgers:

A record of 15-11 in two seasons with the Scarlet Knights shouldn’t put a coach on the hot seat, but a nine-win season followed by a six-win season has the arrow pointed in the wrong direction. And now Rutgers moves into the Big Ten to face a brutal schedule (Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Nebraska). Add to that the fact that athletic director Julie Hermann, who has had some of her own problems since arriving at New Jersey’s state university, didn’t hire Flood, and it’s a volatile mix. Did we mention that for Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is available? Volatile.

Tim Beckman, Illinois:

Like Kansas under Weis, Illinois improved from Year 1 to Year 2 under Beckman, going from two wins to four. Bringing in Bill Cubit to run the offense worked wonders last season, but the Illini still couldn’t stop anyone. And February’s recruiting class was ranked last in the Big Ten by Rivals. Another bowl-less winter would be a tough sell in Champaign.

___

Extra point: Others getting toasty include: Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia; Norm Chow, Hawaii; Troy Calhoun, Air Force; and if Nebraska takes a step backward, it’d be interesting to see what happens with Bo Pelini.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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